NEWS & UPDATES
Didn’t come to America to get GA
In 1994, civil war broke out in my homeland, Rwanda. Like many others, I was routinely tortured and feared for my safety and my life. My only option was to escape the political insecurity and ethnic conflict that consumed my home country. I came to Maine in 2007, with a bachelor’s degree and five years
Maine immigrants speak out against welfare reform bills
AUGUSTA – Lawmakers on the Legislature’s Health and Human Services Committee listened to more than four hours of testimony Wednesday on a half dozen bills sponsored by state Sen. Eric Brakey, R-Auburn, aimed at making major changes to the state’s welfare and General Assistance programs. Among other things, Brakey’s bills would make those who have
Tighter rules for General Assistance in Maine divide crowd at hearing
… Antonie Bikamba, who fled political persecution and torture in his native Rwanda in 2007, said he relied on General Assistance for roughly a year until receiving a federal work permit. He ultimately went back to school, earned a master’s degree in conflict resolution and now works as a caseworker at Preble Street, a nonprofit
Third Annual Maine YogaFest Supports Preble Street Teen Center
After months of preparations, ticket sales for the third annual Maine YogaFest (MYF) opened in mid-March. The weekend festival will be held from July 10 to 12 at the East End Community School in Portland and has added more than 15 new workshops to meet the growing demand from attendees. Up to 1000 yogis are
Portland's community development grants reduced, demand remains high
PORTLAND – A plan to help people left most vulnerable by expected changes to city general assistance, homeless and public health programs will rely largely on $4.28 million in city funds and federal Community Development Block Grants. Funding from the Consolidated Housing and Community Development Annual Action Plan will be the subject of an April
Bernstein Shur Announces Awards for Excellence and Pro Bono Service
Bernstein Shur, one of northern New England’s largest law firms, announced its annual pro bono and volunteer service results. In addition to three attorneys who were individually honored, the firm also is recognizing its staff group, the Sunshine Committee. Sumner T. Bernstein Pro Bono AwardAttorney David Soley, member of the firm’s Real Estate and Litigation
Letter to the editor: General Assistance helps to produce proud, contributing citizens
I came to the U.S. as an asylum seeker from Rwanda in May 2011, having fled my country because of persecution, torture and the fear of being assassinated. I left behind my wife and four children, my assets, my culture and my job. I had served as a humanitarian worker for 10 years before opening
Preble Street Job Seekers Become "Rising Stars"
The first group of students to participate in Southern Maine Community College’s new Hospitality and Customer Service Rising Stars Academy has graduated with skills that are in high demand by the hospitality trade in Maine. The academy, based on the South Portland campus, provided 96 hours of entry-level hospitality training to the unemployed and underemployed
Patriot Subaru Earns $40,000 for Preble Street
Patriot Subaru of Saco presented a check for $40,000 to Preble Street, a Portland-based social service nonprofit, as part of "Share the Love," an annual charitable benefit sponsored by Subaru of America. The presentation was made at Preble Street on Friday, March 20th. Between November 20, 2014, and January 2, 2015, Subaru donated $250 to
Life at the Oxford Street Shelter: ‘Will I get a bed tonight?’
After she makes 16 beds at the hotel where she works, Lori Godin boards a bus, waits in line at a Portland homeless shelter, and if she’s lucky, she will get to make one more. Standing in the cold, Godin adjusted the straps of her backpack, the one that she’s lived out of for two
Task Force to Propose Changes for Portland Homeless Shelter
PORTLAND (WGME) — Portland’s City Council voted unanimously Monday to create a task force that will assess Portland’s Oxford Street Homeless Shelter. “I don’t think any of us would build a system the way our current system is set up today,” City Councilor Ed Suslovic said Tuesday. “It’s a chance to step back and say
Portland City Council approves homeless shelter task force
PORTLAND – The future of city homeless shelters will be examined and evaluated by a new task force created by a unanimous vote of city councilors Monday. Councilors also approved easements to allow installation of natural gas lines to the Portland Technology Park off Rand Road near the Maine Turnpike, but postponed signing a two-part
